Colin Ireland
PFD Report
Historic (No Identified Response)
Ref: 2014-0493
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Critical medication doses were missed, VTE risk assessments were incomplete, and an inadequate hospital discharge summary failed to communicate essential treatment plans to prison healthcare, compounded by a risky late Friday discharge.
View full coroner's concerns
Mr Ireland; on admission to Pinderfields General Hospital on 11th February 2012 was prescribed Thromboprophylaxis medication in the form 0f Clexane 40 mg which he received on 11th 12th, 14th, 15"h and 16th February 2012. doses were missed namely 13th and 7th February 2012. Although an Expert opinion is that the two missed doses would not on balance of probability have caused or contributed to his death, consider that action should be taken to prevent omissions of such important medication and that an explanation should be given as to why the doses were omitted. The Orthopaedic Surgeon who carried out Mr Ireland's operation did not consider it inappropriate for him to be given his Clexane on 13th February 2012 i.e. the of surgery: Furthermore, a Junior Doctor did not complete a documented risk assessment for venous thromboembolism: Although this did not affect the actual prescribing; require the Trust to tighten it's procedure in ensuring that the appropriate risk assessments are correctly and appropriately completed: Regarding Mr Ireland's discharge to the Prison's Healthcare Centre on 17th February 2012 at approximately 5.00 pm. Mr Ireland was given an inadequate discharge summary which did not make clear that he had not received his anti-coagulant medication; Clexane, that Health Care Officers were unaware of this and therefore he did not receive this medication on his return to Prison that day. The discharge summary should have made it absolutely clear as to the treatment plan once discharged.' There was a requirement for physiotherapy, yet no enquiries were made about the availability of physiotherapy during the weekend period, which does not exist at the Prison and therefore alternative arrangements were not considered, from leave drugs Two day day: the invite the Trust to review its discharge procedures generally. Specifically consider that the discharge of patients late on Fridays when healthcare services and facilities over a weekend period are severely limited, both in terms of Prison health care and in the wider community can be risky. Although appreciate that hospital places are often scarce and in demand urge the Trust to consider the merits of avoiding late Friday discharge when enquiries have not been made as to the availability of adequate health care provision over a weekend period. In this instance, Mr Ireland would still have been at high risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, which in fact he did, which was the cause of his death the following Monday_
Sent To
- HMP Manchester
- Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Response Status
Linked responses
0 of 3
56-Day Deadline
2 Jan 2015
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 28th February 2012, commenced an investigation into the death of Colin John Ireland (aged 57) investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24" October 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was: 1a Pulmonary Thromboembolism b Deep Venous Thrombosis of the left leg c A Fracture to the left hip (operated): Jury's narrative conclusion Having considered the evidence; we the find Mr Ireland's death was accidental in nature and not caused by the action or inactions of other person or persons at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield or HMP Wakefield On the morning of 11th February 2012, Colin John Ireland accidentally fell while routine exercise in the yard at HMP Wakefield. Mr Ireland was then transferred to Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield and was diagnosed with a fracture of the left femur. On 13th February 2012 Mr Ireland underwent fuli hip replacement surgery and was discharged on February 2012 to HMP Wakefield s Health Care Centre. On February 2012, Mr Ireland was found collapsed in his cell, after attempts of resuscitation, he was pronounced dead at 0924 hours.
Circumstances of the Death
The Jury any taking 17th 21s
Colin John Ireland had been sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life tariff in 1993_ He had been at HMP Wakefield since March 2008_
2. He was a diabetic and there were times when he ignored medical advice in respect of this which led to complications arising from poor management of his diabetic condition and him suffering with poor vision: During weather on 11/h February 2012 and whilst taking exercise in the exercise yard, Mr Ireland slipped and fell fracturing his left hip Despite verbal advice from a GP to an experienced nurse that this was a life-threatening condition and that Mr Ireland should have been sent to hospital immediately, there was a delay of three and a half hours whilst a Governor Grade Officer insisted on the attendance of a GP and having made several attempts to obtain permission from the Prison Service Directors for him to leave the Prison having regard to his high security status. Mr Ireland's surgery, which was uneventful, did not take place until Monday, 13"h February 2012. He was given the appropriate anti-coagulant drugs to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism although there were missed doses which according to Expert evidence on balance of probability did not cause or contribute to his death_ He was discharged t9 the Prison's Healthcare Centre at approximately 5.00 pm on 17th February 2012, He needed considerable assistance with mobility of the activities of daily living He was meant to receive continued anti-coagulant medication but there were missed doses which according to Expert evidence on balance of probability did not cause or contribute to his death: On the morning of Monday 21st February 2012, whilst using the toilet he was found in a collapsed state Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and his death was confirmed by paramedics at 09.24 hours on 215t February 2012.
Colin John Ireland had been sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life tariff in 1993_ He had been at HMP Wakefield since March 2008_
2. He was a diabetic and there were times when he ignored medical advice in respect of this which led to complications arising from poor management of his diabetic condition and him suffering with poor vision: During weather on 11/h February 2012 and whilst taking exercise in the exercise yard, Mr Ireland slipped and fell fracturing his left hip Despite verbal advice from a GP to an experienced nurse that this was a life-threatening condition and that Mr Ireland should have been sent to hospital immediately, there was a delay of three and a half hours whilst a Governor Grade Officer insisted on the attendance of a GP and having made several attempts to obtain permission from the Prison Service Directors for him to leave the Prison having regard to his high security status. Mr Ireland's surgery, which was uneventful, did not take place until Monday, 13"h February 2012. He was given the appropriate anti-coagulant drugs to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism although there were missed doses which according to Expert evidence on balance of probability did not cause or contribute to his death_ He was discharged t9 the Prison's Healthcare Centre at approximately 5.00 pm on 17th February 2012, He needed considerable assistance with mobility of the activities of daily living He was meant to receive continued anti-coagulant medication but there were missed doses which according to Expert evidence on balance of probability did not cause or contribute to his death: On the morning of Monday 21st February 2012, whilst using the toilet he was found in a collapsed state Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and his death was confirmed by paramedics at 09.24 hours on 215t February 2012.
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you [ANDIOR your organisation] have the power to take such action.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.